James Kicklighter

Professional Trajectory

James Kicklighter is an American film director, producer, writer and editor based in Los Angeles. Raised in Bellville, Georgia, he has directed and produced narrative films, documentaries and commercial work since 2006. His filmmaking explores loss, identity and the connections between individuals and their communities. Kicklighter directed the documentary features The American Question (2024), an eight-year exploration of political polarization and declining trust in the United States, and The Sound of Identity, which follows transgender opera singer Lucia Lucas as she prepares to perform Don Giovanni at Tulsa Opera. His narrative work includes the feature Desires of the Heart and the short films Angel of Anywhere, Followed, The Car Wash, Whatever it Takes and Infection. Alongside directing, his film credits span producing, screenwriting and editing. He is a member of the Directors Branch of the Television Academy and volunteers as a director with Kids in the Spotlight, a Los Angeles organization that supports youth in foster care through filmmaking.